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Trojan horse inquiry was politically motivated, says former Park View chair Trojan horse inquiry was politically motivated, says former Park View chair
(35 minutes later)
The Trojan horse investigation into an alleged plot to infiltrate Birmingham schools by Islamic hardliners was a politically motivated offensive led by Michael Gove, the former chairman of a Birmingham education trust has said.The Trojan horse investigation into an alleged plot to infiltrate Birmingham schools by Islamic hardliners was a politically motivated offensive led by Michael Gove, the former chairman of a Birmingham education trust has said.
Tahir Alam, who until his resignation last month was chairman of Park View Educational Trust, said Peter Clarke, the former Metropolitan police counter-terrorism command who led the investigation, had not even visited some of the schools mentioned in his report. The report said Alam's trust had allowed an "aggressive and intolerant" Islamic ethos in its schools.Tahir Alam, who until his resignation last month was chairman of Park View Educational Trust, said Peter Clarke, the former Metropolitan police counter-terrorism command who led the investigation, had not even visited some of the schools mentioned in his report. The report said Alam's trust had allowed an "aggressive and intolerant" Islamic ethos in its schools.
The investigation was prompted by a letter which gave details of the alleged plot. Although the letter is thought to have been a hoax, Clarke found many of its central allegations were true. Alam was interviewed twice during the investigation and criticised in Clarke's report, which found him to be an influential figure at Park View and several other schools of concern. The investigation was prompted by a letter that gave details of the alleged plot. Although the letter is thought to have been a hoax, Clarke found many of its central allegations were true. Alam was interviewed twice during the investigation and criticised in Clarke's report, which found him to be an influential figure at Park View and several other schools of concern.
"As Mr Alam has spent many years working in education in Birmingham, not only as a governor at six schools but also as a governor trainer on behalf of the council, it is perhaps surprising that he should fail to recognise any of the contents of the 'Trojan horse' letter as being accurate," the report said."As Mr Alam has spent many years working in education in Birmingham, not only as a governor at six schools but also as a governor trainer on behalf of the council, it is perhaps surprising that he should fail to recognise any of the contents of the 'Trojan horse' letter as being accurate," the report said.
It went on: "During the course of the enquiry some very disturbing evidence came into my possession. This showed that within the staff of the Park View Educational Trust, of which Mr Alam was a director and chair of the board, there existed a deep strand of intolerance and attitudes that are totally inappropriate for those who aspire to educate young people."It went on: "During the course of the enquiry some very disturbing evidence came into my possession. This showed that within the staff of the Park View Educational Trust, of which Mr Alam was a director and chair of the board, there existed a deep strand of intolerance and attitudes that are totally inappropriate for those who aspire to educate young people."
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Alam hit back, saying the Clarke report was "commissioned as part of a campaign, really, an offensive against our school, which was politically motivated". Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Alam hit back, saying the Clarke report was "commissioned as part of a campaign, really, an offensive against our school, which was politically motivated".
"Peter Clarke has gone on to do what people who commissioned this report, namely Michael Gove … he's produced a report for him. His descriptions of our school and characterisation of myself is grossly misrepresented and he does not reflect the realities on the ground," he said."Peter Clarke has gone on to do what people who commissioned this report, namely Michael Gove … he's produced a report for him. His descriptions of our school and characterisation of myself is grossly misrepresented and he does not reflect the realities on the ground," he said.
On Tuesday, Nicky Morgan, the new education secretary who replaced Gove last week, announced a series of measures to protect state-funded schools from extreme religious influences. On Tuesday, Nicky Morgan, the new education secretary who replaced Gove last week, announced measures to protect state-funded schools from extreme religious influences.
She said there would be a new schools commissioner for Birmingham to oversee reforms to the way school governors are selected and operate, and to ensure that all children are properly prepared for life in the modern world. She said there would be a new schools commissioner for Birmingham to oversee reforms to the way school governors were selected and operated, and to ensure that all children were properly prepared for life in the modern world.
Morgan also announced that the outgoing head of the home civil service, Sir Bob Kershaw, will conduct a review of Birmingham council's corporate culture. Morgan also announced that the outgoing head of the home civil service, Sir Bob Kershaw, would conduct a review of Birmingham council's corporate culture.
The council is now Labour-controlled, but was run by an alliance of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats until March 2012. The new council's political leadership has admitted, in hindsight, that it put community cohesion before rooting out the problems in some schools, including systematic bullying of teachers resisting attempts to narrow the culture and curriculum of state schools.The council is now Labour-controlled, but was run by an alliance of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats until March 2012. The new council's political leadership has admitted, in hindsight, that it put community cohesion before rooting out the problems in some schools, including systematic bullying of teachers resisting attempts to narrow the culture and curriculum of state schools.